Transportation

Bus Safety

Pay attention to surroundings. If feeling bored or threatened, tell the driver.

Avoid sleeping, cleaning out purse or pockets, balancing checkbook, etc. If you read, look up periodically.

Car Safety

Have keys in hand as you leave the building.

Parked cars provide good hiding places (inside and out). Be alert as you approach your car.

Back off if you see anyone loitering near your car.

Enter your car quickly and lock the door immediately.

If followed or bothered, drive to a public place, store or business and honk your horn to attract attention.

If parking in a paid lot, have money ready before getting out of locked car.

Consider car pooling, not just at work but for leisure time activities as well, particularly when parking is at a premium.

Make it a habit to leave car locked and empty of possessions, even parking meter change.

It is rare for men and children to be abducted during carjacking, but it is very common for women to be taken away. If you are taken in a car crime, there is only one solution-cause the car to crash as soon as possible to avoid even worse crimes being committed at a remote site.

Don't wait until you are traveling at high speeds. Crash the car in your driveway, the shopping mall parking lot, in front of the store.

If you are not the driver, force him to crash. Don't grab the steering wheel - gouge his eyes. Not sure you can do this? Remember what's at stake at the second crime scene. You could do it to save your child-do it to save yourself. If you are fearful that gouging his eyes or causing a crash will prompt him to shoot you, remember that someone who would shoot a victim in a public spot would shoot in a remote spot. Don't risk it later, when there will be no one to help.

Example: When a woman was carjacked in Atlanta, she tried to calm the man down with words. Instead he forced her onto a highway while becoming increasingly violent. When he threatened to kill her, the woman realized her only option was to crash the car. She slowed to 40 mph and plowed into an exit sign and a tree. Her seat belt saved her from serious injury. The assailant, who was on parole, was injured in the crash and fled, but he was caught soon afterward.

Women need to be particularly aware of their surroundings when about to get into their cars. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good looking, well educated man, who always played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and asked "for help" into his vehicle, or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle and the passenger side. If a male is alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall or to work and get a guard to walk you back. It is better to be safe than sorry.

If you are parked next to a big van, you can enter your car through the passenger door. Most women are pulled into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

Once safely in your car, immediately lock the doors and leave.

Carjackers

Drive with your windows closed and your doors locked.

Park in populated and well lit areas.

Don't take unfamiliar shortcuts.

If trapped in traffic, flash lights to get attention.

When approaching an intersection, leave enough room to be able to pull out and get away from the car in front of you.

If actually confronted, don't resist. Get out of the car promptly and head in opposite direction.

Keep home driveway well lit. Check surroundings before getting in or out of the car. Check inside and under the car before getting in.

When renting a car, ask for one without rental stickers.

Keep plenty of gas in the tank and try to avoid using self-service gas stations at night.

Consider buying a car phone.

If bumped from behind and you feel suspicious, don't get out of the car. Motion the other driver to follow you and then go to the nearest well-lit public place where you feel safe, such as a fire station or police station.

Above all, remain calm. Take careful note of all physical aspects of the robber, the vehicle and the direction of flight.